Ana Josefa García, 92, of Andover, formerly of Lawrence, died at 7:13 a.m. Thursday, August 17, 2017 at the Academy Manor Nursing Home in Andover. She was born in Sánchez, Dominican Republic, the daughter of the late Angel María Ureña and Isabel Delgadillo. She married Teófilo Nina Hernandez in 1942 in Sánchez, Dominican Republic. He proceeded her in death on April 16, 1985. She was also preceded in death by her parents, eight siblings, one son (Fidel Esteban Nina) and one grandchild (Marino David Marte).

Josefa is survived by six of her seven children, Caridad Teófila Nina de Cruz of Lawrence, Angela Irene Nina de Arendt of North Andover, Elba Nuris Nina de Morency of North Andover, Fidel Esteben Nina Garcia (deceased), Luiz Antonio Nina Garcia of Lawrence, Bienvendia Evangelina Nina de Bauer of Luquillo, Puerto Rico, and Rigoberto Bienvenido Nina Garcia of North Andover; ten of her eleven grandchildren, Rafael Emilio Marte Nina of North Andover, José Teofilo Marte Nina of Santiago, Dominican Republic, Esteben Nina of Tampa, Florida, Zachery Nina, Deltona, Florida, Eli Elvira Nina of Virginia Beach, VA, Abiel Nina of Lawrence, Samil Nina of Lawrence, Elizabeth Arendt of Tewkesbury, Nestor Bauer of Washington DC, Neysha Bauer of Washington DC; thirteen great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; and her sister Catalina Ventura of Lynn.

Ana Josefa García was born in Sánchez, Dominican Republic. In her youth, although she overtly demonstrated a very strong and assertive character, within her heart she always had a “soft spot” for the ill, underprivileged, unloved, and rejected souls of her neighborhood. She frequently visited and administered to people with contagious diseases such as tuberculosis, terminal diseases, and many other maladies. Her children learned at an early age to have strong faith in our Creator and compassion for those around them because they witnessed their mother praying in the early morning hours for her husband and her entire family. She often took in needy children from the street and raised them until they could return to their original households or were old enough to be on their own. Through her example, her own children grew up with the same strong faith and compassion for everyone, near and far. Ana Josepha was an exemplary housewife and indefatigable worker in her house-based store, rising before sunrise and travel on foot to nearby farms where she would purchase fruits, vegetables, and other food items sold in her store. She moved to Massachusetts in the early 1980s to be near her children, many of whom had previously emigrated from their homeland.  Ana Josepha was blessed with a long and fruitful life, living to see her descendants into the fourth generation. Her children and all of her descendants feel blessed to have enjoyed her for so many decades.

In honor of Ana, memorial donations may be made to the ALS Association, Massachusetts Chapter, 685 Canton Street, Suite 103, Norwood, MA 02062.

Relatives & friends are invited to attend visiting hours at the Diaz-Healy Funeral Home, 107 South Broadway, Lawrence on Sunday, August 20, 2017 from 4 - 7 p.m. Ana's funeral will be held on Monday, August 21, 2017 in the funeral home at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in Lawrence.

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